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Diode devices are disclosed in which the separation of the electrodes is set and controlled using piezo-electric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive actuators. This avoids problems associated with electrode spacing changing or distorting as a result of heat stress. In addition it allows the operat

Diode devices are disclosed in which the separation of the electrodes is set and controlled using piezo-electric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive actuators. This avoids problems associated with electrode spacing changing or distorting as a result of heat stress. In addition it allows the operation of these devices at electrode separations which permit quantum electron tunneling between them. Pairs of electrodes whose surfaces replicate each other are also disclosed. These may be used in constructing devices with very close electrode spacings.

대표청구항 ▼

Diode devices are disclosed in which the separation of the electrodes is set and controlled using piezo-electric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive actuators. This avoids problems associated with electrode spacing changing or distorting as a result of heat stress. In addition it allows the operat

Diode devices are disclosed in which the separation of the electrodes is set and controlled using piezo-electric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive actuators. This avoids problems associated with electrode spacing changing or distorting as a result of heat stress. In addition it allows the operation of these devices at electrode separations which permit quantum electron tunneling between them. Pairs of electrodes whose surfaces replicate each other are also disclosed. These may be used in constructing devices with very close electrode spacings. 1. A keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus for use in a power generator comprising a stator having an outer surface, a plurality of keybars coupled to the outer surface, and a stator core, the keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus comprising: a plurality of keybar shields for the coupling of a magnetic field, each keybar shield being mechanically coupled to the outer surface of the stator, each keybar shield being an electrical conductor; and a keybar shunt electrically coupling at least two of the keybar shields, the keybar shunt being flexible for expanding and contracting during operation of the power generator, the keybar shunt being an electrical conductor. 2. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stator core has stator slots formed in its outer surface and each keybar shield of the plurality of keybar shields is disposed in one of the stator slots. 3. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 2, wherein each keybar shield of the plurality of keybar shields comprises a dovetail shape and the corresponding stator slots comprise an inverse dovetail shape for mating with the dovetail shape of respective keybar shields. 4. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein each keybar shield of the plurality of keybar shields is disposed between one of the keybars and the stator. 5. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein each keybar shield of the plurality of keybar shields is affixed to an outer surface of the stator by a high temperature adhesive. 6. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of each keybar shield of the plurality of keybars shields is approximately an axial length of the stator core. 7. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 6, wherein the length of each keybar shield is shorter than the axial length of the stator core. 8. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the keybar shields are mechanically attached to the stator core and one or more flexible keybar shunts, and the keybar shields are mechanically isolated from other generator components. 9. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt further electrically couples one of the keybars. 10. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt couples the coupled keybar shields at an axial end of each coupled keybar shield. 11. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises corrugated wire. 12. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a flexible strip. 13. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flexible strip comprises a multi-contact strip. 14. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a plurality of flexible strips banded together. 15. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a helical spring. 16. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a chain. 17. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a wire braid. 18. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises wire fabric. 19. A power generator comprising: a stator having an outer surface and a stator core; a rotor rotatably disposed inside of the stator; a plurality of keybars mechanically coupled to the outer surface of the stator; a plurality of keybar shields mechanically coupled to an outer surface of the stator, each keybar shield being an electrical conductor; and a keybar shunt electrically coupling at leas t two of the keybar shields, the keybar shunt being flexible for expanding and contracting during operation of the power generator, the keybar shunt being an electrical conductor; wherein a rotation of the rotor induces a magnetic field that is coupled into the keybar shields, and wherein a magnetic field that is coupled into a keybar of the plurality of keybars is less a magnetic field that would be coupled into the keybar in the absence of the keybar shields. 20. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the stator has stator slots formed in its outer surface and at least some of the keybar shields are each disposed within one of the stator slots. 21. The power generator of claim 19, wherein each keybar shield of the plurality of keybar shields comprises a dovetail shape and the corresponding stator slot for each keybar shield comprises an inverse dovetail shape for mating with the dovetail shape. 22. The power generator of claim 19, wherein at least some of the keybar shields are each disposed between one of the keybars and the stator. 23. The power generator of claim 19, wherein at least some of the keybar shields are each affixed to the outer surface of the stator by a high temperature adhesive. 24. The power generator of claim 19, wherein a length of each keybar shield of the plurality of keybars shields is approximately an axial length of the stator core. 25. The power generator of claim 24, wherein the length of each keybar shield of the plurality of keybar shields is shorter than the axial length of the stator core. 26. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the keybar shunt couples the coupled keybar shields at an axial end of each coupled keybar shield. 27. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the keybar shunt is disposed near an axial end of the stator core. 28. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the keybar shunt is coupled to each coupled keybar shield via a brazed connection. 29. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a corrugated wire. 30. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a flexible strip. 31. The power generator of claim 30, wherein the flexible strip comprises a multi-contact strip. 32. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a plurality of flexible strips banded together. 33. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a helical spring. 34. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a chain. 35. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a wire braid. 36. The power generator of claim 19, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises wire fabric. 37. A keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus for use in a power generator comprising a stator having an outer surface, a stator core having a pair of axial ends, and a plurality of keybars coupled to the outer surface of the stator, the keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive keybar shields coupled to the outer surface of the stator; and a keybar shunt electrically coupling at least two of the keybar shields, the keybar shunt being disposed between the axial ends of the stator core. 38. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 37, wherein the keybar shunt comprises a flexible shunt for expanding and contracting during operation of the power generator. 39. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 38, wherein the flexible keybar shunt comprises a shunt selected from the group consisting of corrugated wire, a flexible strip, a multi-contact strip, a plurality of flexible strips banded together, a helical spring, a chain, a wire braid, and wire fabric. 40. The keybar voltage and current reduction apparatus of claim 37, wherein a length of each keybar shield of the plurality of keybars shields is approximately an axial length of the stat